What Tony Vitello said on Gavin Kilen going No. 13 overall on MLB Draft

Tony Vitello, who was on the MLB Network set providing draft analysis for the first round, was quick to comment on Gavin Kilen being drafted No. 13 overall by the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night.   

“He could play anywhere. Second, short or third,” Vitello said of Kilen’s defense. “I think really, he might have been our best guy at each of those three spots. Going back to my battle about recruiting, we were talking about being around earlier today. Being around competition can only help you. The Parker family, the Holiday’s, the Willits’.

“Most kids in recruiting, or parents, they want to feel safe, which makes sense. You want to be in a spot where you’re comfortable. But being pushed is key.”

Kilen, who played shortstop the final month of the season after starting the year at the keystone, hit a team-high .357 and had a 1.112 OPS with a .671 slugging percentage after transferring to Tennessee from Louisville. He hit 15 home runs, had 46 RBI and 60 runs scored on his 75 hits, which included 13 doubles and four triples. He started 52 times in 53 games while missing roughly 12 games with injury midway through the year.  

“Gavin’s coach was his father, who knows a ton about hitting, way more than I ever thought about. They learn these skills at a young age. They compete against other great players at a young age. And one of them for him was Gavin Lux. He was compared to Gavin a ton at a young age. He’s wanted to be the next Gavin Lux out of Wisconsin. And as of today, to me, he is.”

The junior becomes the 23rd first round draft pick in program history and the eighth of the Tony Vitello era at Tennessee. He is now the third infielder selected in the first round of the Tony Vitello era, joining Christian Moore and Blake Burke who were first rounders last summer. Kilen was slated as the No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 25 from Baseball America ahead of draft weekend. He was also a four-time All-American in 2025.